NATO chief says US-Ukraine intelligence sharing has not stopped

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Wednesday that intelligence sharing between the US and Ukraine has not stopped, citing remarks by US President Donald Trump.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal in Tallinn, Rutte said Trump had made clear that intelligence sharing was continuing.

“I think the president was very clear yesterday when he had a short moment with the media leaving the White House for a campaign event, when he said intelligence sharing has not stopped,” Rutte said.

His remarks came in response to a question about whether he had spoken with Trump following reports that SpaceX had reduced Starlink speeds for Ukrainian users.

“With winter coming, and with Russia’s aggression unrelenting, allies need to do more, especially in support of air defense,” he said, adding that Russia’s actions would not weaken the alliance’s resolve.

“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is trying to weaken our resolve and stop our support for Ukraine, but Russia is failing. It is failing on the battlefield in Ukraine, and we will not be intimidated,” Rutte said, describing Russia’s alleged hybrid activities as a sign of “weakness.”

He said NATO had prepared for Russian hybrid and cyber threats and had the necessary response options, although not all responses would be made public.

Asked whether Russia might consider attacking a NATO member state, Rutte said the alliance saw no imminent threat to its territory.

He said NATO would defend its members but stressed that the alliance remained strictly defensive.

“We will never ever mount an attack towards anyone else because that is not in our interest,” Rutte stressed.